Hifn ships dual-function storage NIC

Posted on January 27, 2009

-- Hifn today debuted the Express DS 4100, the newest addition to its family of multifunction PCI network interface cards (NICs) with bandwidth optimization and encryption features aimed at storage applications that move data across Ethernet networks.

The Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) NIC – available with dual-port copper or optical fiber connections – automatically offloads data compression and encryption processes to save CPU cycles and bandwidth for replication, mirroring and cloud storage applications, as well as moving data across Ethernet networks in IP SAN and NAS environments.

"Buying additional WAN bandwidth is expensive and it does nothing to protect or optimize data that is moved over shared IP networks," says Goldgof. "The technology saves money by helping customers do more with the bandwidth that they already have."

Samples of the Hifn Express DS 4100 will be available to OEM partners this quarter, with general availability expected in the second quarter. Pricing for the DS 4100 is $395 in OEM volume quantities.

The initial release of the Express DS 4100 NIC includes Linux and Windows Server 2003 and 2008 software and driver support, with additional software support slated for future releases.